Chevrolet Malibu Complaints (2004)
1,582 consumer complaints on file.
- #10369249December 5, 2010SEATS
I NOTICED THE DRIVER SEAT WAS "ROCKING" TO THE RIGHT WHEN I SAT DOWN. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE SEAT I NOTICED THAT THE CROSSBAR WAS BROKEN AT THE WELD JOINT ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE SEAT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10369142December 3, 2010FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
2004 CHEVY MALIBU MAXX WILL NOT START DUE TO PASSLOCK. CAR CRANKS OVER AND OFTEN TAKES A WHILE TO START. EVENTUALLY CAR STARTS. OFTEN LEFT STRANDED WAITING FOR IT TO START. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10368628December 2, 2010STEERING
THIS IN REGARDS TO NHTSA CASE # [XXX] 2004 CHEVY MALIBU. POWER STEERING IS CUTTING OUT INTERMITTENTLY WITH NO WARNING. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL AND WHILE MAKING A TURN ON SCHOOL GROUNDS NEAR BUSES AND KIDS WALKING, THE STEERING CUT OUT. SHE ALMOST HIT A NUMBER OF KIDS AS THE SUDDEN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF POWER STEERING CAUSED HER TO LOSE CONTROL AS THE CAR JERKED IN THE OTHER DIRECTION AND ALMOST WINDING UPON THE SIDEWALK. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND NOT ONLY SHOULD GM TAKE CARE OF THIS AT THEIR EXPENSE, I AM ALSO WORRIED THAT GM HAS NOT COME UP WITH A 100% PROVEN FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM. SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED IF SOMETHING ISN'T DONE RIGHT AWAY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10368554December 1, 2010STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STIFF AND SHE WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THERE WAS ALSO AN ALERT THAT INDICATED A PROBLEM WITH THE POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR A MECHANIC TO BE REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10367879November 26, 2010STEERING, EQUIPMENT, EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL
2004 MALIBU PURCHASED 04/05/04 STEERING COLUMN FAILURE 01/10/05 9,225 MILES REPLACED AGAIN 06/16/05 13,430 MILES 01/30/06 INTERMITTENT SHAFT NEEDED REPLACEMENT BUT NO "GOOD PARTS AVAILABLE" FINALLY REPLACED 08/24/06 24,636 MILES RACK & PINION STEERING GEAR 04/17/07 31,846 MILES REPLACED INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT 09/14/09 54,841 MILES REPLACED RACK & PINION STEERING GEAR. CAR NOW HAS 3RD RACK GEAR. ON 11/11/10 AT 68,209 MILES WE WERE TOLD IT NEEDS REPLACEMENT OF RACK & PINION STEERING GEAR. IT HAS ONLY BEEN 14 MONTHS AND 13,368 MILES SINCE LAST TIME REPLACED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10367263November 23, 2010SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED WHEN THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHTS FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD. THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE AND WAIT FOR THE ANTI-THEFT LIGHT TO STOP FLASHING IN ORDER TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER NOR NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE SAFETY ISSUE COULD CAUSE CRASH TO OCCUR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10367284November 23, 2010STEERING
LOSS OF POWER STEERING. WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT AND PULLING OUT ONTO STREET WHEN POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. STEERING WHEEL THEN ABRUPTLY FELT SEIZED FOR A MOMENT CAUSING ME TO GO STRAIGHT INTO OPPOSITE LANE. THEN WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL HOWEVER STEERING WITH GREAT DIFFICULTY TO NEAREST DEALER. WHEN AT DEALER ASKED ABOUT RECALL OR BULLETIN. DEALER SAID THERE WAS NONE, HOWEVER THEY OFFERED A FIFTY /FIFTY SPLIT TO REPAIR. STRANGE IF THEY DIDN'T THINK IT WAS A DEFECT. REFUSED SERVICE AND CONTACTED MANUFACTURE, THEY SAID MY VEHICLE DIDN'T QUALIFY FOR "SPECIAL RECALL" . MY CAR WAS AN 04 "SPECIAL RECALL" IS FOR 05, I ASKED FOR AN EXCEPTION STATING THAT IT IS THE SAME PART, THEY REFUSED. ONE MONTH LATER MY CAR IS TOTALED AND IT NO LONGER HAS POWER STEERING. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10367091November 22, 2010STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS, HE HEARD A THUMPING NOISE WHILE MAKING A TURN. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED THREE TIMES BY A LOCAL DEALER. THE CURRENT FAILURE WAS WITHIN THE RACK AND PINION COMPONENT; THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDTATED 2/17/11 *CN UPDATED 11/30/2011 *LN
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10367032November 21, 2010STEERING
TRAVELING AT 45 KPH IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, POWER STEERING WARNING LIGHT CAME ON AND POWER STEERING ASSIST WAS LOST MAKING VEHICLE VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD RESULT IN A PRODUCT RECALL. AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND IGNITION TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN, POWER STEERING RESUMED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10367037November 21, 2010SEATS
FRONT WELD OF THE DRIVER SEAT BROKE, CAUSING THE SEAT TO SOMETIMES LEAN TOWARDS THE FRONT RIGHT. WE TOOK IT TO CHEVY, ASKED THEM TO CHECK THE SEAT AND DO A STATE INSPECTION. THEY SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AND HAD TO PULL THE SEAT OUT. THEY THEN TOLD ME THAT IT WOULD BE $1,000 TO REPAIR THE SEAT, THEN TOLD ME IT WOULD NOT PASS INSPECTION WITHOUT REPAIRING THE SEAT. WHEN I PICKED UP THE CAR, MORE WELDS HAD BROKEN AND THE SEAT WOBBLED A LOT. THEY TOLD ME THAT IF I PUT THE SEAT IN THE TOTALLY DOWN POSITION THAT IT WOULD NOT WOBBLE. WE COMPLAINED TO THE MANAGER, AND HE HAS AGREED TO CALL GM TO SEE ABOUT GETTING AN ALLOWANCE TO GET IT REPAIRED. NOW I AM LOOKING ONLINE AND SEE THAT THERE ARE A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT BROKEN WELDS ON THE SEAT. I HOPE THAT THERE WILL BE AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS ISSUE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10366794November 19, 2010STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL WITH EXTREME DIFFICULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. WHEN THE ENGINE RESTARTED THE STEERING WHEEL UNLOCKED AND FUNCTIONED PROPERLY. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WILL BE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10366857November 19, 2010STEERING
MY 2004 CHEVORLET MALIBU MAXX HAS HAD REPEATED FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING HAS FAILED AT BOTH LOW AND HIGH RATES OF SPEED. THE POWER STEERING ASSIST GOES OUT AND MAKES THE VEHICLE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10366727November 18, 2010FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX. THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING AND A FUEL SMELL IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND IT WOULD COST A $1000 TO REPAIR IT. THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR WARRANTIES FOR THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE WAS MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10366583November 17, 2010STEERING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
GETTING "POWER STEERING ERROR" INTERMITTENTLY SINCE LAST ONE YEAR. THE ERROR MESSAGE GOES AWAY AT RESTART, BUT COMES BACK AGAIN LATER. THIS IS SERIOUS MATTER AS IT COULD MEAN LOSS OF POWER TO THE STEERING AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. PLEASE INVESTIGATE IT AND HAVE IT RECALLED BEFORE SOME ONE GETS KILLED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10367413November 17, 2010STEERING
I WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 35MPH AND I CHANGED LANES. UPON STEERING TO THE RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP COMPLETELY AND A NOISE LIKE THE DING AN OPEN DOOR MAKES SOUNDED TWICE. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TURNED OFF THE CAR WHILE I TRIED TO CATCH MY BREATH FROM BEING FRIGHTENED. WHEN I RESTARTED THE CAR EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I DECIDED TO DRIVE THROUGH THE PARKING LOT MAKING TURNS TO SEE IF IT WOULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND IT DIDN'T. I AM JUST VERY LUCKY THAT TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT TODAY AND I WASN'T HIT!
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10366387November 16, 2010STEERING
I OWN A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAXX VIN [XXX]. EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE DURING A TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKS, MAKING IT NEAR IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THE WHEEL. THE LOCK STOPS WHEN I LET UP ON THE GAS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10366455November 16, 2010VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN I START MY CAR, I CAN HEAR SOME CLICK NOISE FROM TRANSMISSION OR BRAKE CONTROL. I HAD NOT BEEN AWARE OF THAT COULD LEAD TO SERVER ACCIDENT AFTERWARDS, BECAUSE THE CAR IS PRETTY NEW AND I KEEP IT IN MAINTENANCE PERIODICALLY. ON NOVEMBER 13, 2010, I DROVE AT 40-50MPH, ALONG HWY 128 TO MENDOCINO. IT RAN OUT OF CONTROL, RUSH A SMALL MOUND OF ROAD SIDE, ROLLED OVER ON THE ROAD. I WAS TRAPPED IN THE CAR, ALL FROND WINDSHIELD WAS BROKEN. I ESCAPED SAFELY. I DOUBT THE CONTROL HAS SOME PROBLEM, LEAD THE CAR IMBALANCE. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10365700November 15, 2010SEATS, SEAT BELTS
2004 CHEVY MALIBU DRIVER SIDE SEAT FRAME BROKEN WELDS. THE WELDS IN THE FRAME HAVE BROKEN CAUSING THE SEAT TO BECOME UNSTABLE. GIVEN THAT THE WELDS ARE BREAKING UNDER NORMAL USE AND THAT THE SEAT RESTRAINTS ARE ANCHORED TO THIS FRAME CAUSES SAFETY CONCERNS. IF THE VEHICLE OWNERS ARE UNAWARE OF A DEFECTIVE WELD AND THE SEAT SHOULD BREAK UNDER CRASH IMPACT THE SAFETY RESTRAINT COULD FAIL POSSIBLY CAUSING GREATER HARM. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND CAN SEE THAT THE INTEGRITY OF THE SEAT AND SAFETY RESTRAINT COULD BE COMPROMISED. I SUBSCRIBED TO SOME CAR FORUMS AND WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE 2004 AND 2005 CHEVY MALIBU MODELS WHICH INDICATES SOME FORM OF DEFECT. I AM OF AVERAGE HEIGHT AND WEIGHT AND DID NOT MISUSE THE SEAT IN ANYWAY. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10365499November 12, 2010STEERING
WE PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2006. ITS A 2004 CHEVY MALIBU. THE FIRST TIME WE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING WAS ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO WHEN WE WENT TO TURN THE WHEEL AND THE HORN STARTED HONKING. THE DEALER TOLD US TO BRING IT IN AND COULDN'T MAKE IT HAPPEN. IT DID IT AGAIN AND THEN THEY DETERMINED IT WAS THE STEERING COLUMN AND REPLACED A PART. THE 2ND TIME IT DID IT, THE CAR/WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING LOCKED UP AND WAS MAKING AN ODD NOISE. THEY STATED THEY REPLACED STEERING COMPONENT. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR JUST LAST WEEK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY STEERING LOCKED UP, THE CAR/WRENCH CAME ON AND MY PANEL SAID STEERING. I AM FEARFUL TO EVEN DRIVE THE CAR OR ALLOW MY DAUGHTER TO DRIVE IT AND HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS OF THE SAME ISSUES ON LINE. IT GIVES YOU NO WARNING AND JUST GOES OUT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10365236November 10, 2010STEERING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO WANDER INTO THE NEXT LANE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL AND DRIVE ONTO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNAVAILABLE.
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0